To the Editor: November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Lung cancer kills more people than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined and is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S., behind only heart disease.

Despite the high mortality rate from the disease, lung cancer receives the least amount of federal funding for research among the common cancers. Federal funding for breast cancer research is typically 16 times that for lung cancer.

We are co-chairing the Lung Cancer Task Force of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, one of the leading cancer centers in the nation based in Madison, Wis.

The UW’s Lung Cancer Program provides world-class clinical care coupled with an outstanding research program, but we need more research support to quickly move new discoveries from the laboratory to the bedside to aid patients and families.

In the next three years, we plan to raise $4 million to support:

υ Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, a brand-new facility on the UW-Madison campus. This facility is a new concept in cancer research that unites basic scientists and clinicians and sets the stage to translate discoveries into treatment. Approximately $1.3 million is needed to finish lung cancer research space in this state-of-the-art complex since the State of Wisconsin has already pledged a $2.5 million dollar-for-dollar match.

υ We also need $2.7 million to provide recruitment packages to attract new, world-class lung cancer scientists to the UW. This funding will also provide seed money to establish pilot projects to advance lung cancer research and treatments.

The need to support the UW’s Lung Cancer Program is more important than ever, and we need your support! If you are interested in learning more, please contact Steve Ramig at the UW Foundation, 608-265-3527 or steve.ramig@uwfoundation.wisc.edu.